Deflector for toilet seats



J. H. LAMB 2,709,816

DEFLECTOR FOR TOILET SEATS June 7, 1955 Filed April 9, 1951 Joyce [1 Lamb INVENTOR ATTORNEY United rates This invention relates to deflectors for toilet seats and more specifically to urine deflector attachments for seats of childrens toilet chairs which use chambers beneath the seats thereof.

The primary object of the invention is to have an image of an animals head, or other object, constituting the upper portion of a deflector which is straddled by a child seated on the toilet seat for pacifying the child While on the seat and for forming in the childs mind an association of such image with the operation he is to perform when he is placed on the toilet seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a deflector of the above-indicated character which can be quickly and conveniently attached to and detached from toilet seats without modification or alterations to the seats, which is adjustable for use with seats of various sizes and constructions, and which serves the purpose of retaining a child on a seat when unattended.

A further object of the invention is to provide a deflector in accordance with the preceding objects wherein the imitation animals head, or other object, comprising the upper portion of the deflector is detachable from the remainder of the deflector for use as a toy to be played with by a child when not using the toilet chair, thereby permitting the child to acquire an attraction for same, thus eliminating fear and nervous tension when the deflector is assembled and placed on the seat for accomplishing its main purpose.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a deflector as outlined above which is simple and substantial in construction, economical to manufacture, and thoroughly efiicient and practical in use.

These, together with various auxiliary features and objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a childs toilet chair with chamber beneath the seat thereof and with the improved deflector attached;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the deflector detached from the seat;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawing wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, the numeral indicates a childs toilet chair of the simplest form having the usual seat 11 with an opening 12 therein. Under the opening 12 in the seat 11 is placed a chamber or similar receptacle 13. The distance between the top of the chamber 13 and bottom of the seat 11 varies with different makes of chairs, and it is chiefly this area that the deflector proatent Q 2,709,816 Patented June 7, 1955 tects by preventing urine from being sprayed through this area and outwardly of the chamber.

The improved deflector designated generally by the numeral 14 consists mainly of an upper figure portion 15 and a lower guard portion 16 adjustably held together by threaded studs 17 of suction cups 18 that attach the deflector 14 to the seat 11. Both portions 15 and 16 are preferably molded or otherwise formed of plastic material, the upper portion 15 being of shell-like construction shaped to represent an animals head or any other object that appeals to children and is provided with a concaved rear surface 19 conforming generally to the contour of the figure represented and having a flared base with a substantially flat bottom surface 20, as clearly shown in Figure 4. It is to the flat bottom 20 that a forwardly directed thin plate 21 of the lower guard portion 16 is clamped by the connections of the suction cups 18, there being slots 22 in said plate for slidably adjusting the guard portion 16 forwardly and rearwardly relative to the figure portion 15, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, to accommodate different size and shaped seats.

The lower guard portion 16 is substantially of rightangled formation With the thin plate 21 forming a horizontal leg while the main body thereof, designated by the numeral 23, constitutes a vertical leg extending downwardly from the plate 21. The main body 23 is also of thin wall construction and is curved in cross section to conform substantially to the curvature of the openings 12 in most toilet seats and to function as a chute for directing urine into the chamber 13. The vertical side edges of the curved wall 23 are of slightly increased thickness and are rounded, as at 24, for adding rigidity to the Wall and for eliminating sharp edges which could possibly hurt the child.

By hollowing out the upper figure portion 15 from the rear and attaching the lower curved guard portion 16 in the manner shown and described, it can be seen that the concaved upper surface and curved lower surface merge to provide a continuous deflecting surface extending a substantial distance both above and below the seat to which the deflector is attached.

It will be observed that there are three suction cups 18 for attaching the two sections 15 and 16 together and for detachably holding the deflector on toilet seats; the suction cups also serve the purpose of properly attaching the deflector to seats with the hole therein opening to the front of the seat. In such cases, the center suction cup would serve no purpose, while the other two suction cups would be spaced outwardly suflicient distances to grasp the seat at opposite sides of the opening.

The use of suction cups for attaching the deflector to toilet seats, while eliminating the necessity of making alterations to a seat, also makes it possible to attach the deflector to almost any adult toilet seat; thus, when parents take their children visiting, the deflector can be carried along with them to be used by the child. The child, being accustomed to the animals head on the deflector, will feel at ease and will be aware of what is expected of him when he is placed upon a strange toilet seat with the deflector attached to the seat.

In use, the deflector may be attached to the seat either before or after the child is placed on the seat, and it may be removed while the child remains on the seat or after the child has been lifted from the seat. With the deflector in place on the seat as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a child using the seat will be positioned so that any streams of urine directed above the chamber will strike the deflector and will run down the surfaces thereof into the chamber and will not be sprayed over the seat or floor upon which clear understanding of the construction, operation, and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and full intendment of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A toilet seat deflector comprising an upper figure part having a substantially fiat bottom and being repre sentative of an object appealing to children, a lower guard part of substantially right-angled formation with one leg extending horizontally forward and engaging the fiat bottom of said upper figure part and the other leg depending vertically and rearwardly offset from said figure part, and toilet-seat attaching means connected to said figure part so as to support said figure part above the toilet seat, said attaching means also adjustably connecting said horizonopening so as to be extended downwardly through the toilet seat opening and positioned adjacent the edge of the opening upon adjustment of said lower guard relative to said upper figure part.

2. A toilet seat deflector comprising a vertically extending upper figure guard part having a substantially fiat bottom and being representative of an object appealing to children, a lower guard part of substantially right-angled formation with one leg extending horizontally forward and engaging the flat bottom of said upper figure part and the other leg depending vertically and being rearwardly oifset from said figure part, and toilet seat attaching means connecting said horizontal leg of said lower guard part to the fiat bottom of said figure part, said upper guard part and said horizontal leg of said lower guard part being adapted to be positioned above the forward circular portion of a toilet seat while said offset depending vertical leg of said lower guard part extends downwardly through '5 the opening in the toilet seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS D. 102,578 Sacheroff Dec. 29, 1936 1,682,798 Richards Sept. 4, 1928 2,392,091 Kieft Jan. 1, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,726 Great Britain 1914 680,862 Germany Aug. 17, 1939 

